Halo 3: ODST £9.99 @ Zavvi [Xbox 360 Games]

Halo 3: ODST prices have been steadily falling since Reach beta wrapped up a couple of months ago- and Zavvi are now well ahead of the pack. Retailing at £9.99, this deal will save you a cool £3 compared to the next cheapest offering from The Hut. Note that ShopTo are currently out of stock with a price of £11.86.

ODST started life as a cheap and cheerful expansion pack for Halo 3. During development, however, it imploded and subsequently blossomed into a full retail title under the weight of its own magnificence. Containing an 8-hour campaign and the entirety of Halo 3's acclaimed multiplayer modes, it's a full-fledged Halo experience in its own right that didn't quite deserve its full RRP.

Personally, I had a blast with Halo 3 ODST- as it retcons a little Halo 2 backstory and unites several Firefly cast members for a reunion tour. Taking on the role of a rookie Helljumper who's cut off from his team after a disastrous orbital insertion, you'll explore the gritty sandbox sandbox streets of New Mombasa to piece together exactly what the hell happened. Exploring the moonlit city is a tense and stealthy affair that'll make you pick and choose your battles- and is punctuated by several flashback missions that play like a 'best of' Halo collection. The set pieces are truly exhilarating, and whilst they're much more linear than some of the bigger Halo 3 battles, they still rank as some of the best in the series.

The cooperative Firefight mode allows teams of ODSTs to take on hordes of spawning Covenant troops for points, reputation and glory. A selection of mandatory mutators stop the experience from being as fun and accessible as it ought to be (essentially by imposing arbitrary restrictions on the players from time to time), but it's still a worthy addition to the franchise.

Basically, ODST is a rewarding and worthwhile shooter that's a must for Halo fans... and a steal for under a tenner.